HERSHEY, PA — The Hershey Bears and Rochester Americans are now tied in their Eastern Conference Finals series one game a piece.
Hershey defeated the Americans 2-0 in Game Two at Giant Center after two late second period goals by their veterans.
The New Jersey Devils ended their season with a spirited Game Five defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. (Note: So ends my series of adopting the New Jersey Devils.)
Dawson Mercer opened up scoring with what I think of as the platonic ideal of a 2023 Devils goal, a bunch of passes moving fast on the rush. Jaccob Slavin tied it early in the second period, possibly with a tip by Kotkaniemi or a Devil not to be named, then Timo Meier worked for a rebound in the crease to restore New Jersey’s lead, which vanished in the last minute of the second period, as Akira Schimd was screened from seeing Brent Burn’s outside shot.
In overtime, on the power play, Victor Fast ended the Devils’ season.
Carolina wins 3-2. They take the series in five games.
By Peter Hassett 2 weeks ago
The New Jersey Devils got blown out by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Four, spoiling their chance to tie up the series. (Hey, did you know that I’ve adopted the Devils this postseason? It has brought me nothing but pain.)
New Jersey scored first, a deflection off Jack Hughes following Brett Pesce’s giveaway. Martin Necas scored on the rush after a nifty pass from Jordan Martinook, leaving us tied after one period.
The second was all Hurricanes. Necas scored again after a nice centering pass – again from Martinook. Brett Pesce went post-and-in after a few quick passes, then Jesper Fast scored with a backhand in a net-front scramble, then Brent Burns got one with an outside slapshot. That was enough for Vitek Vanecek. Jordan Martinook, all alone, ripped one top shelf to make it 6-1 at the end of two periods.
Canes win 6-1. Carolina leads the series 3-1. Thursday is an elimination game.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The New Jersey Devils came alive in Game Three against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hope you like goals. This game had goals. (Note: I’m covering the Devils this postseason, which apparently sucks for the first two games of each series?)
The first goal of the game was Timo Meier’s first point of the playoffs, a stuff made possible by Jack Hughes. It was Hughes himself who scored the second goal at the end of a nasty passing sequence with Brendan Smith. Michael McLeod’s shorthanded goal made it 3-0 after one period.
In the second period, Nico Hischier worked in the paint to chase Carolina goalie Freddy Andersen, but Sebastian Aho engaged his cloaking device to score moments later, making it 4-1. Damon Severson kept piling it on with a wristshot from the faceoff. Jordan Martinook converted a penalty shot before the period was up.
In the third, Miles Wood finished off a strong shift with a goal, then Jack Hughes scored again — between the legs of relief goalie Pyotr Kochetkov. Jordan Staal scored a shorthanded goal to make it 7-3, then Seth Jarvis scored another, separate shorthanded goal 50 seconds later. It was at this point I started to black out from all the goals, but I believe Ondrej Palat scored after that.
Devils win! Canes still lead the series 2-1.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The Carolina Hurricanes womped the New Jersey Devils to take a 2-0 lead in their semifinal series. The Devils didn’t even put up a fight.
After a goalless first, Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored two in the second period – first a power-play while wide open, then a hard-working net-front goal. Jordan Staal outdanced poor Akira Schmid, then Martin Necas joined a swarm to make it 4-0 after two periods.
Miles Wood ended Frederick Andersen’s shutout early in the third period, thanks to some good forechecking by Nathan Bastian. Jordan Martinook stole an errant pass and carried it the length of the ice to make it 5-1, then Stefan Noesen took a saucer pass from Sebastian Aho to make it 6-1.
Canes win. They lead the series 2-0.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The Carolina Hurricanes throttled the New Jersey Devils in the first game of the second round. It was a thorough throttling. (Note: I’m covering the Devils this postseason. It’s no longer a bit. This is my calling)
It was all Hurricanes in the first. Brett Pesce kicked it off with a goal right after an offensive-zone faceoff win. Five minutes later, Seth Jarvis made it 2-0 on a breakaway.
The Canes kept pushing early in the second period with an easy one for Jesperi Kotkaniemi that we’ll talk about below. New Jersey showed signs of life as Nate Bastian got a lucky puck along the blue line and carried it in for an easy goal.
Ten minutes into the third period, Brady Skjei made it 4-1 with a one-timer from the faceoff dot. Jesper Fast got the empty-netter, and it was done.
Canes win 5-1. Canes lead the series 1-0.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The New Jersey Devils advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a decisive game-seven win over the New York Rangers on Monday night. It was never in doubt. [Note: I’ve been covering the Devils for the postseason. Looks like I’ll be doing it a bit longer.]
After a scoreless first period, Michael McLeod scored a shorthanded goal after Ondrej Palat did some excellent forechecking. Tomas Tatar made it 2-0 by taking a genius pass from John Marino. Erik Haula made it 3-0 with a quintessential New Jersey rush goal. Jesper Bratt got the empty-netter.
The Devils have eliminated the Rangers in seven games. The Devils advance to the second round.
By Peter Hassett 4 weeks ago
The New Jersey Devils kicked off Game Six against the New York Rangers like a team determined to end the series. That lasted maybe 19 minutes, then they turned into a frustrated fluffle of bashful bunnies. [Note: I’m covering the Devils this postseason. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made, and that includes the time I had a mohawk.]
Curtis Lazar found a bad rebound from Igor Shesterkin and converted it into an early lead for the Devils. That lead did not survive the period; however, as Chris Kreider tipped in a shot in the last thirty seconds. Those last few seconds seemed to change everything.
In the second period, Mika Zibenejad got his first goal of the postseason, scoring on a pass from below the goal line to give New York the lead. After a failed clear, Vladimir Tarasenko potted a big shot to give the Rangers a two-goal lead after two periods.
In the third, Barclay Goodrow teamed up with Jimmy Vesey for an odd-man break to make it 4-1 Rangers. Braden Schneider, an unlikely scorer, got one from way out. Mercer got a power-play goal with five minutes left, but it was over.
Rangers win 5-2. The series is tied 3-3. Game Seven will be on Monday night.
By Peter Hassett 4 weeks ago
The New Jersey Devils finally seized control of their series against the New York Rangers with a rousing win on home ice. This was the best game of the series. [Note: I’m covering the New Jersey Devils this postseason. It’s an experiment; just go with it.]
Ondrej Palat scored in the game’s first minute after a lost offensive-zone faceoff. Erik Haula went to the net and put the puck through Igor Shesterkin’s five-hole, then Dawson Mercer’s shorthanded goal became the first playoffs goal of his career. Erik Haula got an empty-netter when there was still five minutes left on the game clock, and that was all the Rangers had in the tank.
Devils win 4-0. Akira Schmid gets the shutout. Devils lead the series 3-2.
By Peter Hassett 1 month ago
The New Jersey Devils tied their playoff series against the New York Rangers with a convincing win on enemy ice. The unlikely star of the game? It’s ya boi Jonas Siegenthaler with a goal and an assist.
Jack Hughes scored on a beauty of a breakaway early in the first period. After a scoreless second, Vincent Trochek tied the game, snatching a big rebound two minutes into the third period. But Jonas Siegenthaler caught a crisp cross-ice pass and ripped a shot to the far side to make it 2-1 Devils. Ondrej Palat sealed the deal with an empty-net goal.
Devils win! Series tied 2-2.
By Peter Hassett 1 month ago
